The Marine Fire Support Team as a Model for Distributed Operations Analysis: Review of Prior Analyses, Summary of Ongoing Research, and Recommendations for Future Work

Abstract : The emerging doctrine of distributed operations (DO) presents the Marine Corps with significant human performance challenges. Although it is an emerging doctrine, many key features of DO have been fairly well-established. Instead of tactical decisions being made at the command level, they will increasingly be made by small unit leaders carrying out combat operations. Unlike traditional units, DO units will be capable of directly coordinating fire support from joint fire agencies to effectively respond to a broad range of threats. Sophisticated electronic communications will extend below the company level to small DO units to enable separation and coordination of interdependent tactical actions. Due to their expanded role, leaders of DO units must possess a broad range of leadership and decision-making skills to effectively execute missions consistent with the commander's intent. Many of these leadership and decision-making skills can be improved through interventions, such as training, assessment, classification, job-aiding, or equipment design. All of these interventions require extensive front-end analysis (e.g., job analysis, task analysis, user needs analysis) to facilitate implementation. The Marine fire support team (FiST) was selected as a DO unit proxy of small unit leadership and call-for-fire positions to allow investigation into how best to identify, train, and equip Marines to perform in these positions effectively. This report describes research completed during 2007, subsequent work currently underway, and recommendations for future work to support DO Marine manpower, personnel, and training needs.